Home improvement stores hit in retail frauds

Items taken from Home Depot

An employee at Home Depot, 13500 Middlebelt, came to the Livonia police station Sunday to report a retail fraud.

The employee said a suspect was seen leaving the store with items he did not pay for, including a vacuum and a hammer-and-drill combination set. The employee said they would provide the security footage of the incident.

Fraudulent return at Menards

Police were dispatched May 27 to Menards, 12701 Middlebelt, on the report of a retail fraud suspect that had fled the store.

Police arrived and reportedly saw the suspect as he left the store. They stopped and detained him as well as two others in the car. After speaking to employees at the store police reportedly found out the suspect was seen concealing two pairs of pliers and taking them out of the store without paying. He allegedly then returned to the store and returned them fraudulently. The suspect was arrested and the two others in the car were released as they did not have anything to do with the theft, police said.

Two shoplifting suspects flee

Police were called May 27 to Home Depot, 13500 Middlebelt, on the report of two retail fraud suspects that had left the store after being confronted.

Loss prevention employees told police one suspect fled in a vehicle and another fled on foot. Police located the vehicle driving along Schoolcraft, pulled it over and arrested the man. The other suspect was seen walking near Meijer. The two were reportedly seen inside the store removing security devices on items before concealing them. One suspect was reportedly seen scanning the wrong price on items such as a water heater. While that checkout was happening, the other suspect reportedly distracted the attendant. Both tried to leave but were stopped by an employee, police said. They then fled the store, police said.